Westfield World Trade Center
A major retail and dining destination integrated into the World Trade Center complex in Lower Manhattan.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Westfield World Trade Center is a shopping and dining complex within the rebuilt World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan, New York City. It is operated and managed by Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield and is integrated primarily with the World Trade Center Transportation Hub, commonly known as the Oculus, as well as with surrounding World Trade Center buildings. The complex opened on August 16, 2016, and was presented as the largest shopping complex in Manhattan at its launch, with 125 planned retail spaces. The current mall replaced the original Mall at the World Trade Center, an underground shopping center that opened in 1975 beneath the original World Trade Center. That earlier facility occupied concourse areas under buildings including 4 and 5 World Trade Center and Austin J. Tobin Plaza. It contained approximately 80 stores and restaurants and served both office workers and the large numbers of commuters transferring through the adjacent subway and PATH stations. Westfield Group became involved in the original mall through a 99-year lease agreement with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey in 2001 and planned a major renovation and rebranding before the September 11 attacks. The original mall was severely damaged during the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and the subsequent collapse of the Twin Towers. It also became part of the evacuation route used by people leaving the towers and nearby areas when debris made direct exits onto the plaza dangerous. The facility was later determined to be beyond repair. Planned renovations, including a proposed McDonald's location, were abandoned, and the remaining mall space was removed during the broader cleanup and reconstruction of the World Trade Center site. The replacement retail complex was developed as part of the larger World Trade Center reconstruction. Its footprint is smaller than that of the original mall because the rebuilt site includes the National September 11 Memorial & Museum and other new infrastructure, but the new complex uses multiple levels and is distributed through the Oculus and connected buildings. The Oculus provides a highly visible architectural setting and functions as both a transportation interchange and a retail environment. Retail areas also extend into portions of 3 and 4 World Trade Center, while future development plans for 2 World Trade Center have contemplated additional retail levels. Westfield and the Port Authority formalized their partnership for the new retail development in February 2012. Westfield marketed the space and established a leasing operation as construction progressed. In December 2013, the Port Authority sold its remaining interest in the retail development to Westfield, giving Westfield control of the retail component. Leasing advanced steadily: the mall was reported to be approximately 80 percent leased in June 2014, and its 125 retail spaces were reported as fully leased by October 2015. The opening in 2016 initially included about 60 operating stores, including Apple and Pandora, together with a food hall and a concert featuring John Legend and Leslie Odom Jr. By 2017, reporting identified 82 stores in operation, while some space and storefronts remained affected by ongoing construction and transportation-hub work. Westfield World Trade Center is positioned as a premium, design-led urban retail destination rather than a conventional suburban mall. Its location links international tourism, Lower Manhattan offices, residential neighborhoods, subway passengers, PATH commuters, and visitors to the World Trade Center memorial and cultural sites. Its tenant mix has included fashion, accessories, beauty, technology, specialty retail, food, and beverage concepts. The mall’s identity is inseparable from the architecture and civic significance of the rebuilt World Trade Center, making it both a commercial property and a component of a major transportation, business, and visitor district.
History
The history of Westfield World Trade Center is rooted in the commercial and transportation infrastructure of the original World Trade Center. The first Mall at the World Trade Center opened in 1975 as an underground shopping center beneath the complex. Its principal retail areas were located under 4 and 5 World Trade Center and Austin J. Tobin Plaza, with entrances from Liberty and Church Streets and connections to the subway and PATH systems. The mall served office workers, commuters, visitors, and residents, and included roughly 80 stores and food outlets. Westfield Group managed the original mall and in April 2001 agreed with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to take a 99-year lease. The agreement was accepted in July 2001. Westfield intended to undertake a major renovation, rebrand the center as Westfield Shoppingtown World Trade Center, and expand the tenant offering. Those plans were never implemented because the September 11 attacks destroyed the original World Trade Center complex. The mall was directly affected by the attacks and the collapse of the Twin Towers. Smoke, water, debris, and structural damage spread through the concourse. The underground facility also became an important evacuation route because people leaving the towers could not safely move directly across the plaza. Search and rescue teams examined the mall beginning September 13, 2001, marking searched areas and documenting structural conditions. The original facility was subsequently judged beyond repair, and its remaining space was demolished during the cleanup and reconstruction of the site. The replacement mall formed part of the multi-stage rebuilding of the World Trade Center. Unlike the original single-level underground shopping center, the new retail development was distributed across multiple levels and buildings. A central element is the Oculus, the transportation hub designed by Santiago Calatrava, which provides both PATH and subway access and contains substantial retail space. Retail was also planned in 3 and 4 World Trade Center, with additional space contemplated for 2 World Trade Center. In February 2012, Westfield and the Port Authority established a formal arrangement to develop, own, and manage the new retail facilities. Westfield opened a leasing office and promoted the project to prospective tenants. The retail development reached approximately 80 percent leased by June 2014 and was reported to have all 125 spaces leased by October 2015, although not every location was operating at the public opening. In December 2013, the Port Authority transferred its remaining retail interest to Westfield. Westfield World Trade Center opened on August 16, 2016. The launch included a concert headlined by John Legend and Leslie Odom Jr., a food court, and stores such as Apple and Pandora. Approximately 60 stores were operating at opening, and reporting in 2017 identified 82 operating stores. Leasing and construction continued after the opening, including work affecting storefronts near the PATH station entrance. The center’s commercial role is closely connected to its setting. It is intended to function as a premium shopping and dining destination, but it also supports the broader World Trade Center district by serving commuters, workers, tourists, and visitors to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum. Its architecture, transportation connections, and location give it a civic and visitor-oriented identity distinct from a conventional enclosed mall.
- 2017
Store count expands after opening
[1]Reporting identifies 82 operating stores, while additional construction and storefront work continues around the transportation hub.
- 2016
Current mall opens
[1]Westfield World Trade Center opens on August 16 with an opening concert, food offerings, and initial stores.
- 2015
Retail spaces reported fully leased
[1]The mall’s 125 retail spaces are reported to have been fully leased ahead of the public opening.
- 2014
Leasing reaches approximately 80 percent
[1]The redevelopment is reported to be about 80 percent leased as Westfield continues tenant recruitment.
- 2013
Westfield consolidates retail control
[1]The Port Authority sells its remaining interest in the retail development to Westfield.
- 2012
Redevelopment agreement is established
[1]Westfield and the Port Authority formalize their partnership for the new World Trade Center retail development.
- 2001
Westfield agrees to lease the original mall
[1]Westfield Group and the Port Authority agree to a long-term lease, with renovation and rebranding plans for the original mall.
- 2001
Original mall destroyed in September 11 attacks
[1]The original mall is heavily damaged and ultimately removed after the September 11 attacks and the collapse of the World Trade Center towers.
- 1975
Original World Trade Center mall opens
[1]The Mall at the World Trade Center opens as an underground retail center beneath the original World Trade Center complex.
Products and positioning
Premium urban retail and dining destination integrated with a major transportation hub and landmark redevelopment in Lower Manhattan.
Retail and transportation complex · 2016
Oculus retail concourse
The Oculus is the principal architectural and circulation element of the current Westfield World Trade Center. It combines PATH and subway access with a large retail concourse and provides the mall with its most recognizable public-facing environment. The space accommodates fashion, specialty, technology, beauty, and food tenants while connecting visitors to surrounding World Trade Center buildings and public spaces.
Retail · 2016
Fashion and specialty retail
The mall’s retail offer is centered on fashion, accessories, beauty, technology, and specialty concepts aimed at a mix of commuters, office workers, residents, and visitors. The tenant strategy emphasizes recognizable national and international brands within a premium architectural setting rather than a discount or outlet format.
Food and beverage · 2016
Dining and food hall
Dining is a core component of the center’s visitor proposition. Food-court and food-hall facilities opened with the mall and are designed to serve both short commuter visits and destination-oriented customers. The offer complements the surrounding office district, transportation hub, and tourist activity at the World Trade Center.
Commercial real estate · 2016
Connected World Trade Center retail spaces
In addition to the Oculus, retail areas extend into portions of the wider World Trade Center complex, including space associated with 3 and 4 World Trade Center. These connected locations allow the mall brand to function as a district-wide retail platform rather than a single enclosed building.
Marketing campaigns
- 2016Opening concert and public launch
United States
The opening of Westfield World Trade Center was marked by a public concert headlined by John Legend and Leslie Odom Jr., alongside the launch of the food court and initial retail stores.
Outcome. The event introduced the rebuilt retail complex as a major component of the World Trade Center redevelopment and helped establish its destination-oriented identity.
Brand decisions
2016
Launch of the rebuilt Westfield World Trade CenterProduct launchBackground
The new retail complex was developed as part of the rebuilt World Trade Center and the Oculus transportation hub.
Action taken
Westfield opened the mall on August 16, 2016, with approximately 60 operating stores, food offerings, and a public concert.
Aftermath
The complex became a major retail and visitor destination in Lower Manhattan, with further tenant openings and construction continuing after launch.
2013
Westfield acquires the Port Authority’s remaining retail interestM&ABackground
The Port Authority retained an interest in the retail component after the redevelopment partnership was formed.
Action taken
The Port Authority sold its remaining stake in the retail development to Westfield.
Aftermath
Westfield obtained complete control of retail at the World Trade Center, subject to the wider site’s public ownership and development arrangements.
2012
Formal redevelopment partnership with the Port AuthorityStrategyBackground
The new World Trade Center retail development required coordination between Westfield and the Port Authority, which owned the broader site.
Action taken
The parties entered an agreement to jointly own and manage the retail development, while Westfield began marketing the space and recruiting tenants.
Aftermath
Leasing accelerated and the retail project progressed toward its planned 2016 opening.
2001
Plan to renovate and rebrand the original mallStrategyBackground
After agreeing to a long-term lease with the Port Authority, Westfield planned a substantial renovation and intended to use the Westfield Shoppingtown World Trade Center name.
Action taken
Westfield prepared to expand and modernize the original underground mall, but the September 11 attacks destroyed the facility before the plan could be carried out.
Aftermath
The original mall was determined to be beyond repair, and its replacement became part of the broader World Trade Center reconstruction.
Recent events
- 2016
Westfield World Trade Center opens in Lower Manhattan[1]
Product launch
The rebuilt World Trade Center retail complex opened on August 16, 2016, with a concert, a food court, and initial tenants including Apple and Pandora.
- 2013
Westfield takes control of World Trade Center retail development[1]
M&A
The Port Authority sold its remaining interest in the World Trade Center retail development to Westfield, consolidating Westfield’s control of the mall’s retail component.
- 2012
World Trade Center retail partnership formalized[1]
Other
Westfield Corporation and the Port Authority entered an agreement to jointly own and manage the redeveloped World Trade Center retail facilities, while Westfield began leasing and marketing the space.
Sources1 sources
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